Talking exclusively to Get Surrey, the former Football League star - who kicked off his career at Woking in 1997 before being sold to Kevin Keegan's Fulham for an eventual £150,000 - explained the motivation behind his decision.

Betsy had surgery on torn knee ligaments last July and the injury has taken its toll. He commented: "I've always said I would never keep playing for a team if I didn't think I could contribute and do a job and perform to a high level.

"Since I had my bad injury in the summer I've only scored one goal and my form has been nowhere near what I would like it to be.

"I'm not going to hang around like a bad smell. You have to be respectful to the club and not be mercenary to football which has been good to me. I always said I would never go and just pick up money. It would be very easy for me to do that and play at a lower level, but I'm not going to do that."

He went on: "Football is about being realistic. The gaffer is looking for results and he has a big player on his cards in myself in terms of appearances in League football, but this season he hasn't really got his return.

"To be honest, in the two or three years before, he has got his return which is fine. I know when the time is right. [Manager] Garry Hill has been fantastic for this club and fantastic for me and we will always have a very close relationship."

Betsy recalled: "I felt really good pre-season, I was in good shape and good form. I had never had an injury like that, never had an operation, but I'm not Peter Pan.

"It's a minor injury in footballing terms and I probably could have played on another couple of years, no problem, but I think this is a good time for me to call it a day."

Asked how his emotions might be when Halifax come to town next month, he said: "Any game when you play for Woking and pull on the shirt is fantastic. I've made my decision and I will stick to it and the club will move on and do extremely well.

"I'll be proud of the club always and have a close association with the gaffer, Geoff Chapple and Peter Jordan and all the people connected to Woking, especially the fans.

"I will always come down and watch and be an advocate for Woking and you never know what the future holds. My affiliation with the club will never die and other players will come in and the club will move forward. That always happens in football - new players, new cycles."